'This Is Not A Political Visit': Aaditya Thackeray Reaches Ayodhya To Seek Ram Lalla's Blessings

Aaditya reached Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow and traveled to Ayodhya to visit the under construction temple and seek the blessings of Lord Ram.

Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray. (Image: ANI)

Maharashtra Tourism Minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray visited temple town of Ayodhya on Tuesday. Aaditya reached Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow and traveled to Ayodhya to visit the under construction temple and seek the blessings of Lord Ram. After reaching Ayodhya, Aaditya spoke to reportes and said that this is not a political visit but a matter of faith. 

"This is not a political visit but a matter of faith. We'll offer prayers to Ram Lalla today. We have come here as devotees," he said. Aaditya Thackeray also said that CM Uddhav Thackeray will speak with UP CM Yogi Adityanath to facilitate devotees from Maharashtra and ask for a space to build a Maharashtra Sadan in Ayodhya.

Uttar Pradesh | This is not a political visit but a matter of faith. We'll offer prayers to Ram Lalla today. We have come here as devotees: Shiv Sena leader & Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray in Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/u46qpPLJJN

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 15, 2022

Aaditya also preformed 'aarti' at Iskon temple in Ayodhya along with Sanjay Raut and other Sena leaders.

#WATCH Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray along with party leaders performed 'aarti' at Iskcon Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, today pic.twitter.com/gYuCcPX5rh

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2022

“This is not a political programme. A team of Shiv Sena workers and leaders are already in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya city to take care of arrangements for Thackeray’s visit," said Raut while speaking to the media Monday.

The 32-year-old is not be accompanied by his father, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the temple town of Ayodhya.

“Thackeray will seek the blessings of Ram Lalla. He will also visit the construction site of the Ram temple. He will also participate in the ‘aarti’ on the banks of the Sarayu river,” the Shiv Sena’s chief spokesperson said.

'This is not a political programme,' Raut said, and added he himself will go to Ayodhya and visit the temple. 

Aaditya Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya comes at a time when his party is being targeted by the BJP and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) of Raj Thackeray on the issue of Hindutva.

MNS chief and Aaditya Thackeray’s uncle Raj Thackeray who created a controversy after demanding removal of loudspeakers from Mosques, also said he would visit Ayodhya this month, but the trip was postponed on the grounds of ill health.

Since Shiv Sena broke away from BJP as an ally, the tug of war between both the parties have continued over the issue of Hindutva. Each has been trying to project itself as having a stronger Hindutva ideology.